Automatic railroad-signal.



No. 867,364'. l w. H. HARRIS.

AUTOMATIC yRAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLIGATION'PILBD JARD, 1907. v

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PATENTED OCT. 1, y1907.

No. 867,364., PATENTED'OCT. 1, 1907. W. H. HARRIS. AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SIGNAL.

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, APPLICATION FILED JMLO, 1907.

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No. 867,364. PATENTED OUT. 1, 1907.

W. H. HARRIS.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLIcATIoN FILED JAN. 9, 1907. Y

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` the value of automatic signaling, my invention confor registering the departure oi an out-going train from UNTTED STATES WILLIAM HENRY HARRIS, OF STARK, MONTANA.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

Application nai January 9,1907. serai No. 361,497.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 1, 1907'.A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY HARRIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Stark, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a speciiication.

The purpose of my invention is to notify the engineer and the train crew as well as the 4station operators whether a train is on certain parts of the main line which I have divided off into blocks. Also, when the train is side-tracked by means oi my automatic signals, the engineer and train crew of an in-coming train are notified, ii the switch has been left open. The signal is put into operation by a pliable attachment placed on the forward right hand side above the engineers cab7 which hits against pendulum shaped rods at certain intervals, thus closing an electric circuit or suflicient time to set in operation the signals on the block just entered by the train. As the train passes out oi the block, a similar attachment placed on the rear o the train strikes a pendulum and puts out the lights or other indicating device, provided no other train is left on the block running in the same direction. Should there be another train running in the same direction, the danger signal will still be operative by means of my automatic registering device.

With these and other objects in view for enhancing sists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and concisely claimed. 1

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a diagrammatic representation of the. main line of a railroad being protected by my automatic signals. Fig. II is a side view oi my automatic registering device, part of which is shown in cross-section. Fig. III is an end view of my automatic registering device. Fig, IV is a representation of my pendulum device for registering the approach of an in-coming train. Fig. V is a representation oi a pliable attachment to be placed above the locomotive and the rear of the train for setting the pendulums into operation. Fig. VI is a representation of my pendulum device the block. Fig. VII is another view of the same, showing space left for locomotive attachment to pass through without affecting the same. Fig. VIII is a representation of my device for alarming an approaching train of an open switch. Fig. IX is a section of switching still further illustrating the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several drawings.

l is a section o the main line included between the dotted lines XX and YY. Let us suppose'a train entering irom below going up the track. As the engine passes the dotted line YY the pliable attachment Il situated above the cab of the locomotive strikes the pendulum 4 drawing it into the dotted position 13 and at the same time the pliable attachment takes a position similar to that shown in dotted outline l2. The motion is stopped by the stud 14, but at the same time the pendulum closes an electric circuit at 16 conveying current from metallic plug l5 to plug 17 From plug I7 the current flows by wire 18 to plug 20. From plug 20 the current is conveyed by wire 25 around the electro-magnet 26, thence to plug 2l, thence through wire 27 and storage battery or other source of power 28, it returns by wire 29 to metallic plug 15, thus completing the circuit. As the current passes around the electro-magnet 26, it magnetizes its iron core causing the iron shoe 30 to be lowered. Attached to this iron shoe is a steel extension 3l which is consequently lowered, compressing spring 61, and causing the ratchet head 34 of the steel extension 31 to engage with one oi the teeth of wheel 35 giving it a revolution equal to the space oi one tooth and holding it from reverse motion by ratchet catch 36. The ratchet wheel 35 [its loosely upon the spindle 39, held in position by supports 38 and 84, and is insulated from it. Upon the same sleeve 40 is located a metallic disk 83 with a metallic brush 4l which makes an electric contact with disk 42 as soon as the brush 4l moves over the insulator 43, since the insulator 43 covers the distance of only one tooth of 35. As soon as the pendulum 4 swings to left thereby completing the exterior circuit through plugs l5 and 17 the disk 83` `being rotated one tooth space becomes in electric contact with disk 42. Let us suppose the current starts at disk 42. Metallic sleeve 44 being in electric communication with 42 the current is then conveyed by brushes to wire 45 and thence to plug 24 and wire 46 through the electric signals 47, these signals being of different colors. depending upon whether they are on the right or left side of the moving train. Thence the current is conveyed through storage battery or other source of power 48, and thence it returns by plug 19 and wire 49 through brushes to metallic sleeve 40, thence to disk 83 and brush 4l to disk 42, thereby completing the circuit. As soon as pendulum 4 swings back the circuit through electro-magnet 26 is broken, hence the iron shoe 30 and steel extension 3l spring upward due to the elasticity of spring 6l, the ratchet head 34 springs out and around the next tooth setting itself for the next train, the ratchet 36 keeping wheel 35 from returning to its previous position.

Suppose the train now advances up the track. As the Caboose or rear of the train crosses the line XX, the pliable attachment similar to the one on the locomotive hits the pendulum 1'7 swinging it into the dotted position 5l thereby closing a circuit at 50 between the plugs 53 and 52. From 52 the current goes through storage battery 28 by wire 54, thence to plug 22 by wire 55, thence around electro-magnet 5G by wire 57 to plug 23, thence it returns to plug 53 by wire 58, thus completing the circuit. When the current encircles electro-magnet 56, it causes its iron core to become magnetized, thus drawing the iron shoe 59 toward the iron core thereby compressing the spring 60 and by means of the ratchet head 32 engaging a tooth of wheel 33, it advances wheel 33 by one tooth, thus bringing insulator 43 again under brush 4l and thereby opening the signal circuit. As soon as pendulum 7 swings to its natural position the circuit around electro-magnet 5G becomes broken, thus the iron shoe 59 Springs back diie to the elasticity ot spring 60, until the head 62 limits its motion, the ratchet head 32 swinging out and over the next tooth due to the elasticity ot the steel extension 37, thus setting itself ier the next impulse, the ratchet G4 keeping wheel 33 from returning to its previous position.

Let us suppose now that two other trains have entered the block before the rst train had lett it. Wheel 35 would now be advanced three spaces ahead of the insulator 43. Hence not until the third train had lett the block would the signal light or other indicating device be turned out as each would advance the insulator 43 ahead one space and three advancements are required before wheel 33 catches up with wheel 35.

In a similar way a complete set ot signals are given coming down the track by a train entering from above in the opposite direction, and as the corresponding different lights or signals are made on its right and lett a trainalready upon the block is notilied of the approaching danger. Should all the trains upon a block going in the same direction be ordered to side-track, a similar device will be located in the clear on the side track so that the Caboose or rear ot train closing the circuits consecutively upon my registering device will cause the danger signal to cease operating as soon as the main line is clear, thus the train coming from the opposite direction having the right of way will have now no interfering signal and as a consequence will not have to stop` As the side-tracked train or trains again enter the main line the engine attachment will hit its corresponding turn-on pendulum and put the danger signals en again.

5, 3 and 9, 8 are representations of pendulums tor preceding and following blocks el the main line, respectively, while l() and (i are lor putting on and oil signal when coming down block l.

Let us suppose the train wishes to side-track. 'lhe brakeman throws the switch lever (il to the space (i5 in order that the train may enter from the main line titi to side track (i7. The spring (i8 being attached to lever (il will dra-w rod 69 to right until block 7l attached to rod G9 touches abutment 70. llod titl being drawn to right will iorce metallic bar 72 into the knife edges 75, thus forming a circuit as follows: Starting at knife edges 75 the current is conveyed through signals 30 by wire 79, thence through storage batteries or other source of power 73 by wire Si, thence to brush S2 insulatedirom frame 7G, thence by rods 73 and 72 it returns to knife edges 75. lf the switch is thrown'to the lett a similar danger signal is given. These devices are to be located at both ends oi the main line switches and by giving different colored lights or signals, a train and their crev are warned as to which end the switch is open.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what l claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a system of the class described, the combination with two sources of electrical supply, ot a circuit connected with one of said sources, train actuated means for closing said circuit, an electro magnet in said circuit, parallel metallic disks. ratchet wheels carried thereby, one ot' said disks beingl formed with a section ot insulation ilush with its periphery. the other oi' said disks being torlncd with a brush overlying the periphery lo1` said tirst named disk. said disks being in circuit with the other source of electrical supply. signaling devices in said last named circuit. an iron shoe adapted to he attracted by said electro mag nel', u resilient rod proiected fast through said shoe :1nd having its upper end shaped as a pawl lo engage one ot said ratchet wheels. a compressiblc springl surroumlingsaid rod, a second electrical circuit; from said iirst named source of supply, train actuated means for closing said second circuit. an electro magnet in said second circuit, a shoe adapted to be attracted thereby. a resilient' rod projected fast through said shoe and havingits upper end shaped as a paw] for engagement; with the other of said ratchet wheels and a compressible cpriug surrounding said last named rod.

Witnesses Cuannus Scnovan lunnick, Roninrr Similar. 

